Things to do with kids

Pettitts Animal Adventure Park

We chose this part of Norfolk for easy access to many things to do with kids nearby. Here are some things we've enjoyed, but check out what's happening during your stay.

Caister

Kids can explore and dress up on the Caister lifeboat at the Lifeboat museum (check for opening times) It's free but the lifeboat service is not RNLI and relies on donations to keep running. Following recent fundraising, the centre is developing to accommodate a café as well as replacing the older boat.

The freedom of the lovely unspoilt beach at Caister does something wonderful to the kids. They launch into squabble-free projects together and go home happy and chilled out. Can't recommend it enough and only 5 mins' walk from the cottage... 

There are other lovely beaches nearby too. 

Playground - at nearby King George VI recreation ground (Allendale Rd). There are swings, climbing frames a zipwire and an outdoor gym as well as the Rabbit Hutch café.

Caister Castle and Motor Collection and Caister Roman Fort are both worth a visit. 

Caister Roman Fort ruins. The Caister ruins are a short 15 min walk from the cottage - the foundations of a roman fort which would have overlooked and protected waterways into Norfolk from invaders. 

Photo credit: Danny Godbolt

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Burgh Castle You can find out more about the coastal network of islands and the very different geography of this area back in Roman times, with a trip to nearby Burgh Castle ruins which are one of the best preserved Roman fortifications in the UK.

Overlooking the Yare there are some very interesting visitor signs there showing the very different coastline then. Take a walk from there to the Fisherman's Inn or along the boardwalks on the river. (Great place for dogs and kids to explore).

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Hemsby

Crow's Nest, Hemsby

Hemsby (just outside Caister) has plenty of amusements, slides, bumper cars, karting, candy floss and other seaside attractions.

We've enjoyed the Crow's Nest High Ropes climbing frame at Richardson's Holiday Centre and the karting tracks.

Hirsty's, Hemsby

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Hirsty's Maize Maze is also nearby as you enter Hemsby.

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is just a few miles away and has an excellent Sealife Centre, the newly refurbished Marina Leisure Centre, the Time & Tide Museum as well as children's rides at Joyland, a Model Village and plenty of fish and chip shops and ice cream sellers. 

Marina Centre - Great Yarmouth

Marina Leisure Centre (recently redeveloped) has aquaplay, disco flumes as well as pools. Also has Clip n Climb. 

(Other swimming: The Phoenix Pool and Gym and California Cliffs Holiday Park in Scratby also have pools.)

The Arc Cinema in Great Yarmouth has 5 screens.

The refurbished Victorian Venetian Waterways and gardens has boat and pedalo hire. You can see more here.

Yucky Yarns - a guided walk for all the family to learn about horrendous history in Great Yarmouth. Gory stories and ghastly goings on with pirates, graveyard antics and secret chests! 

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Gorleston

Gorleston splashpad near Great Yarmouth is a fun wet play area for children with fountain sprays, jet streams and buckets of tipping water all set within an ocean themed play area featuring a sail boat, seaweed and starfish.

 

Crabbing. You can fish for crabs at Gorleston pier or at the Fisherman's Inn at Burgh Castle - or further afield, Cromer and Southwold/Walberswick are famous for it. Walberswick even hosts the Crabbing Championships! Tips: Bacon works well as bait for your crabbing line and a crab basket makes it quite a lot less challenging...

              Crabbing from Gorleston Pier

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Adventure theme parks

Pettits activities

Pettitts Animal Adventure Park (30min) theme park is worth a visit with younger children up to 8 or 9 years old.

Pleasurewood Hills activities

Pleasurewood Hills (25min) theme park is better for kids in a wider age range.

BeWILDerwood

BeWILDerwood (30min) 

High Lodge, Brandon

Thetford Forest (High Lodge 1hr) is a favourite for us to break up our return journey.

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Animals

Redwings horse sanctuary, Caldecott

Redwings Equine sanctuary (30min). Check opening times - it's free entry (also one at Aylsham).

Thrigby Zoo

Zoos and wildlife parks

Africa Alive!, Amazona, Banham Zoo are all not far and Thrigby Zoo (10 mins) is on your doorstep.

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Wroxham

Barton House Railway, Wroxham

Wroxham has a small model railway, open occasionally by volunteers at weekends - you can get a short boat ride over the river. 

Wroxham also boasts the Bure Valley small-gauge steam railway (35min).

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Cromer

Cromer pier



Cromer is about an hour by car from Caister and the annual Carnival in August has plenty to keep kids amused, including aerial acrobatics, processions, stunt/trick displays and fairground rides.

Cromer Carnival  takes place in the middle of August and has a selection of animal shows, events, parades, stalls, fire engines, stunt shows, fairground rides. There is often a display from the Red Arrows too.

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Fossiling

Happisburgh and other locations along the coast like West and East Runton and Sea Palling regularly turn up fossil finds to visitors. West Runton had a famous mammoth find and Happisburgh was the site of the earliest known footprints outside Africa! Possible finds also include flint hand tools. amber, sponges, ammonites and belemnites.  

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Norwich

There's lots to do in Norwich. It's most famous for its market and cathedral.

 

Waterloo Park is a large enclosed play area with sandpit, big splashpad, café, tennis courts, football pitch, bowling, small putting green and extremely well kept gardens.

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Fairhaven

Fairhaven

Fairhaven Water Gardens (35min) with den building, plenty of room to run around and short boat trips on the Broads.

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The Broads

Hickling Broad

Hickling or Ranworth Broad visitor centres for wildlife and lovely walks.

See our page on Walking.  

See our Broads & boat hire page

  

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How Hill

How Hill - free entry to grounds, gardens and woods and cafe. Boat trips available. Family day out (dogs welcome).

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Sheringham

Sheringham Viking Festival (February half-term) has been lots of fun when we've managed to get along, make sure you're there for burning flame parade down to the spectacular live battle on the seashore.

Sheringham Park (National Trust) is a beautiful place to visit.

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Somerton (nr Winterton) The East Somerton church ruins, which you can visit on this walk was reputedly destroyed by a witch - the local legend is that the villagers buried her under the church and the oak tree grew from her wooden leg and wrecked the church!

For fans of "The Greatest Showman" film - the 7ft 8in Norfolk Giant from PT Barnum's circus is buried at the nearby (and quaintly thatched) St Mary's Church in West Somerton.

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Kids activities in the cottage

There are plenty of books, toys, board games/Wii games and DVDs in the cottage to keep you busy. Have a look here at other suggestions rainy day indoor activities nearby.

For more images ....
Places to roam
Family fun attractions